Author Juli D. Revezzo is visiting today and sharing not one but two excerpts from her new release Passion's Sacred Dance. Let's give Juli a great big welcome!
Writing love scenes, from a
once “closet romance writer's" perspective...
by Juli D. Revezzo
JDR: Thank you, Eliza for
inviting me here today!
EM: You're so welcome. Juli I loved this book. The way you blended fantasy and past life experiences into a contemporary romance was fascinating!
JDR: Ask any romance reader and
you’ll hear the thing they look forward to most in a romance novel is the
budding love between the hero and heroine. The (excuse the pun) climax of this
romance is usually the all-important love scene, so much so that sometimes the
end of the book is anticlimactic. Some
writers write them so poorly they might as well just have left them out. Some
do it so well, they overtake the story and border—if not completely cross
into—erotic romance, or downright erotica.
The writing of the scenes
is an art and one—at least since the release of Fifty Shades of Grey—every
budding romance author aspires to and to make them seem flawless, gaining many
a headache in the process.
But you know what? They are
damned hard to write. For me, I’ve always included a love thread in every
attempt I’ve made at a novel, but I never leaned so heavily on those scenes as
I learned to do during the writing of my newest novel, PASSION’S SACRED
DANCE. The genres I grew up reading and never relied heavily on open door
sex as a plot point. Yes, some of my
favorites did. Michael Moorcock’s Elric always seems to be chasing some skirt,
and Melanie Rawn certainly doesn’t shy from the subject in her novels. But
still there’s no time for noggie when you’re facing angry, power-hungry wizards
or hungry, man-eating dragons, or battle for that matter, now is there?
So when I thought about
joining the Romance Writers of America I felt out of place, to be honest. Me? I
write for fans of Melanie Rawn and Michael Moorcock (although, Michael’s
characters *swoons*…). Still, I was up for a little literary adventure and gave
it a try. Manuscript after manuscript, my characters slipped the door open a
little more. And seemed to like it. *faints*
Finally, when I got down to
writing the love scenes for what became PASSION’S SACRED DANCE, I
decided if the authors I’d read and enjoyed recently (C.L. Wilson, Eliza March,
and Tammy Kane) could pull it off, so could I. Every attempt I made, my bold
factor kept slipping up notch by notch, until I opened the door the entire way
until, heck, my Aaron didn’t feel at all uncomfortable walking around naked in
front of god and everyone! Once I let them, my characters said, “It’s about
bloody damned time. This is fun!”
Silly characters (or I
guess, silly writer). Oh, I can argue with you until I’m blue in the
face as to why there are so many other
bits and pieces that hold a fantasy novel and world together (as my critique
partner knows); there are maniacal wizards, valiant warriors, and hungry beasts
to quell, aren’t there? But I suppose I got it right, or we wouldn’t be
standing here talking about this book, now would we?
Now about those naked
warriors parading around…. ;)
EM: Would you like to read more
about PASSION’S SACRED DANCE?
Passion’s
Sacred Dance
Battling
mounting debt, Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery.
When Aaron Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the
attraction sizzling between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her
savior in disguise--but can she trust him?
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.
Cold shot through her. She needed warmth— something
the artificial heater wouldn’t give. She took his hand in hers.
Aaron jumped but soon relaxed, his fingers entwining
with hers.
After a moment, the despair dissipated, replaced
with something else—intrigue, the desire to touch him, the craving to sample
his mouth.
“I have a better idea than meeting this Mr. McDunn.
How about at the next light, you pull over or turn around or something?”
“Stacy.”
“Okay, if you don’t want to then—”
“I didn’t say that.”
He found a spot at the side of the road and leaned
in to kiss her. Savoring the soft pliancy of his lips and the sweet mint taste she detected, she slipped her tongue between his lips. Her fingers moved up to his broad shoulders, and as his arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, she welcomed the feeling of his heart thudding in his chest, reverberating through hers. His
left hand moved down her back to her waist as his
right arm held her tightly around the shoulders.
He smelled wonderful, like fresh sweet seas and
crisp wind.
Her fingers tested the hem of his scratchy wool
sweater and beneath, caressing the hard, warm surface of his lower back.
His laugh sounded low in his throat, curling her
toes.
“Ticklish?” She dove back into the kiss, deciding
she liked it. Loved it, actually.
Too soon, Aaron broke the kiss and pushed her gently
away. “Stacy.”
Excerpt #2
Can you love a man without knowing who or what he
is? Can there be love without trust? She
wondered.
Been there, done that. Don’t want to do it again.
Good looks, bad temper. She had scars on her body to
prove some handsome men couldn’t be trusted. She mentally shook her head to
erase the memories flooding back and yet absently scrubbed her left foot
against the old wound marring her right calf. “I’ve had some restless nights
lately,” she said.
“I understand. Been there myself.” He tapped his
temple. “Battles tend to stick, now and then.”
“Yeah. You should see some of the ones I’ve seen.”
Aaron’s brow rose.
She sniffed, but didn’t say more. “Are you ready to
explain what that was about, yesterday?”
“I’m not sure to what you’re referring.”
How to put this? “The discussion you had with the lawyer?”
“Actually,” he said, “I rather hoped we could forget
that nonsense ever happened.”
“Like I wish I could forget Janeus and Miller are
offering for my place.” She waved a hand around the room. “I’m sorry for
yelling at you, yesterday. Can you forgive me?”
“Forgive you for what?” Aaron wrapped his empty arm
around her shoulders.
She suddenly couldn’t breathe steadily or remember
where they were. She blinked and licked her lips, hoping for a kiss. Someone
cleared a throat and Aaron pulled away. Stacy glanced at the student watching
them.
“Come on,” Aaron said and tugged her toward the
stairs. Did she see the student smile?
“Let’s see what your archivist might’ve found,” he
urged.
Downstairs, Stacy chose a reading table and set her
purse down. She cocked her head, reading the title of Aaron’s book as he set it
beside her purse.
“Self-Mastery?” she read. “Don’t you know all about
that?”
“It’s an ongoing struggle, no matter how advanced
you are.”
“No matter how old?” she teased.
“Or how youthful.” He spun the book so she could get
a better look. “Would you like to read it?”
EM: Would you? ;) If so,
PASSION’S SACRE DANCE is available for Kindle from Amazon and coming soon
to other venues.
JDR: I hope you’ll check it out and enjoy the story I had to tell! Thanks
again, Eliza, for hosting me!
EM: You are entirely welcome! Thanks for sharing!
About Author, Juli D. Revezzo:
Juli
D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring
everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and
the classics and has a soft spot for classic the “Goths” of the 19th century.
Her short fiction has been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The
Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and
Luna Station Quarterly. She also has an article and book review or two
out there. But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of
Independent Authors Network and Magic Appreciation Tour. Passion’s Sacred Dance
is her first romance novel.
You can find out more about
her at her homepage: http://julidrevezzo.com/
Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JD-Revezzo/233193150037011
Follow her on Author’s Den http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?AuthorID=167318
On Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo
On twitter: @julidrevezzo
Thank you for hosting me, Eliza! :)
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